Hey, guys! Sorry it's been over a week! But wanted to let you guys know how amazing you are! I got such amazing feed back on the last chapter, and you guys communicated to let me know were you are seeing the story! I changed the rating and I was able to see it on the feed as well. It may have been on the feed the entire time and I just haven't seen it, but I'm not sure what happened. As long as you guys are seeing it, that's all that matters!

I've been sitting on this chapter for a few days. I wish I could describe just how I'm struggling when it comes to this story. I know exactly what I want to happen, but I'm experiencing such bad writer's block I think. I don't know if it's ever been this bad. But I'm pushing through, and I really hope you guys are enjoying it!

This chapter hasn't been edited, but I really hope you guys like it!

Austin

I shielded my eyes from the early morning sun peeking through the window as I wiped the sweat dripping from my brow. Undoing the boxing gloves from around my wrist, I glanced at my watch, noticing that it was five minutes until six. I tied the gloves together, storing them safely in my office before making my way out of the room and down to the first floor of the gym.

My heart was still racing from excursion as I nodded a greeting towards Kira.

"Good morning," she smiled from her spot behind the front desk. She took a step back as I rounded the counter and stood in front of the computer, punching in the numbers that would clock me in for the day.

"Morning."

She frowned, just like she always did when she got nothing other than that simple word. I didn't know exactly what she expected, after nearly three weeks of working together, our greetings never wavered from routine.

"You know, you really should smile more often."

At her words, I held back the sarcastic chuckle that nearly escaped. How many times had I heard that line from woman? More than I could count.

"It's six in the morning and we are at work," I pointed out dryly, "what's there to smile about."

Kira just rolled her eyes on a sigh, turning her back to me as she began going over billing statements.

There wasn't another word spoken as I stalked towards the locker room where I would take twenty minutes to shower and dress before my first session of the morning – which just so happened to the brunette that seemed to be a recurring thought in my mind lately.

And as I stepped underneath the hot stream of the shower, I let my thoughts drift to her.

Ally Dawson was an enigma.

She was different than the typical gym rats and angsty teens I encountered daily. I hadn't the slightest clue about her, and each time she walked through my door, my curiosity grew.

While most customers were a little too transparent; giving away their thoughts and emotions with a single facial expression, transparency didn't seem to exist in Ally Dawson's world. She had seemingly perfected a mask durable enough to make it through the toughest of days. But her subtle characteristics gave away everything she tried hiding behind that mask; the one that faked a smile convincing enough to those around her that she had her shit together.

Yet, those eyes that crinkled with each smile didn't light up – they remained emotionless.

Her body language gave away just how much confidence she lacked within herself. With each tilt of her head down where she watched her fingers fiddle with one another, the way her shoulders always remained slumped, and the fact that she didn't seem to move with a purpose like most.

But where she seemed not the least bit interest that first day, I watched during her first workout; at the way her spine straightened, at the way her body moved with persistence. I saw the way determination flickered in her eyes when I challenged her afterward, expecting something of her that she didn't expect of herself.

And although her voice was low, I chuckled when remembering she had called me an asshat.

That had amused me just as much as it caused irritation to bubble in my stomach.

Because I knew behind those timid actions and emotionless eyes laid a spark that hadn't been ignited in a long time.

"I need someone to expect something from me."

She didn't need anyone to expect something from her; she needed someone to expect her to do better for herself, to push her to find oxygen to give life to that fire inside of her.

I wondered of her story, what had made her the way she was. What had taken a light away from a beautiful, twenty-year-old girl that had the entire world in the palm of her hands. And I felt a spark in my own chest – I would demand of her what she wouldn't demand of herself.

With a new workout plan in mind for Ally, I stepped out of the shower, drying off and getting dressed before stepping out into the main area of the gym. I made my way across the floor, waving and nodding to the regulars.

"Oh hey," Kira called to me as I tried sneaking behind the counter and up the stairs.

I held back the sigh that tickled my throat, turning to her with a raised brow.

"Ally called; said she would be a little late."

My jaw clenched that raised brow falling. "Did she say why?" I tried to hide the slight anger wanting to peak through my words. But when Kira just shrugged, I pursed my lips, not sparing her another glance as I jogged up the stairs.

It was quarter past seven when Ally finally walked through the door, a small, apologetic smile on her lips as she dropped her bag near the door. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, giving me a full view to her face that appeared worn and distressed. Dark circles rested beneath puffy eyes, those brown orbs of hers outlined by red rims – she looked exhausted. But with anger that had been growing for the past forty-five minutes, I pushed away the concern poking at my chest.

"You're late."

She closed her eyes, wincing at my tone before biting her bottom lip. "I know, I'm sorry."

"I thought you said you were taking this seriously. What was it you said? Trust you'll commit whatever you have to give to this?" My tone was still harsh, but the volume of my voice stayed low.

Her lips popped open slightly, and I seen the argument that wanted to fall from her lips. But instead, she just shrugged, focusing her gaze down to the floor. "I am taking this seriously," she began, I was fifteen minutes late. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

I shook my head, grounding my teeth together. Dismissing her comment, I grabbed a jump rope, tossing it to her, and I probably would've felt like a dick if she hadn't caught it at the last second. With a tiny scowl, Ally watched me as the jump rope dangled from her fingers.

"You've wasted fifteen minutes of my time, let's get started."

For the next hour, I pushed Ally through the hardest workout I had given her, and to my surprise, she didn't tap out once. Even when I gave her a circuit of fast pace boxing combinations and she looked like she were about to pass out.

But I found that the more I pushed, the more fight I got from her. Those eyes that looked dull and lifeless this morning came to life once she accomplished task along with enduring my harsh demands.

And once she was finished, plopping down onto the mat, I clapped her shoulder lightly, offering her a 'good job' – that still didn't soften the glare she had sending me since about halfway through.

As I watched her wipe the sweat from her pale face, I felt a tinge of guilt that I had pushed her so hard simply because of anger. Sighing, I walked towards my office, grabbing a damp towel I had in the fridge before walking up behind her.

"Here," I offered, ignoring her jump as I lowered myself right behind her, placing the towel around her shoulders before grasping her right arm gently. She tensed, but once I began massaging the spots that I knew would be the most tender, she relaxed.

"What are you doing," she asked, taking an end of the towel and bringing it to her cheeks.

I watched as her shoulder blades flexed with each press of my fingers into her bicep. The razor back tank she wore allowed me skin to skin access as I worked my way towards her trapezius muscle.

"Working out your muscles. You'll be sore as hell by this afternoon if they aren't massaged and stretched while being warm."

She didn't say anything, and we were quite for a few moments until I cleared my throat, giving into that concern from earlier that had bubbled back up. "Why were you late," I asked, keeping my voice low. And while her shoulders tensed, my fingers didn't skip a beat as they massaged where her neck met her shoulders.

In the next instant, she relaxed them again. "I didn't sleep well last night," she admitted softly, and when she went to look down, each of my index fingers shot up to the back, underside of her jaw. She sucked in a breath, straightening her neck. "I overslept, and I could've made it," she defended slightly, "until I realized I had fallen asleep with all my gym clothes in the washer."

I chuckled softly, remembering all the times I had done the exact same thing; I hadn't since high school, but I wouldn't tell her that.

"It won't happen again," she promised.

My fingers traveled gently up the sides of her neck, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and when Ally shivered, the corner of my lip lifted. I pressed down and up right beneath her skull, allowing slight separation from the first vertebrae of her spine.

Ally released the softest moan of approval, one that caused my own shiver. I knew she would feel the tension give way from her shoulders, shoulders that were too tense and contained too many knots for her age.

"Do you do this for all of your clients," she joked, amusement dripping from those words.

"If they need it," I said dryly, but the truth was, was that I hadn't ever done this for anyone else, and I probably never would. And while I was confusing myself by my own actions, my hands kept moving on her neck.

"I shouldn't have pushed you so hard today," I confessed, feeling my skin crawl. I had never apologized for pushing someone, but I had also never pushed someone so hard at the hand of my own emotion.

At that, Ally turned her head, looking her eyes with mine as best she could. Those brows were furrowed in curiosity as she eyed me, that amusement from before dancing across her lips. "Did you just apologize," she asked, almost incredulously.

My lips tickled with a smile as I shook my head, shooting her a playful glare. "Tell anyone, and I'll make your life a living hell every time you step through those doors," I warned, but as her eyes darted between mine, I could tell she didn't take my threat seriously in the slightest.

A smile of her own made its way across her lips, her eyes lightening up as they returned my playful glare. "I'll just go tell everyone and then quit," she teased, and when my glare sharpened, she let out a little laugh.

With a roll of my eyes, I gently shoved her forward. I stood to my feet before extending a hand to her. She took it gratefully, and when she was standing only inches from me, I found myself looking down at her, finally taking in the height difference.

"Wow," I said, "you are short as shit."

Ally gaped up at me, "that minute of niceness really was too much for you, huh."

I just shrugged causing her to scoff, but I could see the tiny she tried to hide once she turned her back towards me.

This had been the most she had smiled; this had been the most comfortable I had ever seen her.

"Well, I had better get going, I have to get to work," she announced, walking towards the door and bending down to retrieve her duffle.

I mentally cursed myself when my eyes unintentionally fell on her ass in those leggings. Adverting my gaze just in time as she straightened, I nodded, grabbing the towel from her outstretched hand.

"Where do you work," I asked curiously.

"At Betty's Blooms, the little florist and gift shop right beside the downtown's juice bar."

"The florist shop with the little, blue bicycle outside?"

Her brows popped up in surprise.

"I only know that because I go to the juice bar all the time," I chuckled, and when she let out a sarcastic 'mhmm', I swatted her lightly with the towel. "I've never even stepped foot in that place."

She laughed, "oh, I know. I've worked there nearly every weekday for the past four years. I think I would remember a broody, blonde with a butthole face coming in to buy some flowers or a candle."

I paused; lips pursed in disbelief. "Did you just say I have a butthole face?"

Her eyes danced with laughter, "yep, you are actually proving my point right now."

Forcing my lips into a firm line, I shook my head. "Be prepared to die Friday," I warned, stepping out onto the landing with her as she walked towards the staircase.

"I'm so scared," she deadpanned before her lips turned up into a soft smile. "I'll see you Friday at seven sharp."

Nodding once, I watched her go, and as I did, I felt my chest tighten.

Shaking my head, I walked back towards my office, ready for the next client that would be here in less than ten minutes.

/

Ally

"You are not allowed to ignore my call, bitch."

I whirled around from organizing Valentine's Day decor at the sound of Trish's voice that sounded before the bell even had a chance to – it was two heartbeats after that the shop's doorbell finally dinged.

"What are you talking about," I asked, turning back to straighten the large heart that adorned our biggest display shelf.

"Last night I tried to call you to complain about Rico and you didn't answer your phone. You are lucky that I was too busy arguing with him to come over to yours."

Oh, wasn't I ever.

Rico was Trish's fourteen-year-old brother that still managed to push her buttons even though she didn't live at home. I would have to thank him for whatever he did to piss Trish off enough to leave me alone for a night.

"I'm sorry, I was talking to my dad and then fell asleep early."

At least it wasn't a lie, so therefore, she couldn't see right through me.

"What did Rico do?"

For the next twenty minutes, I was pulled into Trish's story involving Rico and their father's birthday. Apparently, Trish wanted to get her father the same gift that Rico had already gotten for him, and Rico wouldn't let her have any of the credit.

It was times like this I was glad I was an only child.

"Anyways," Trish sighed, leaning against the counter while typed away the monthly inventory I had taken the night before last. "Want to go grab something to eat? I'm starving and don't have to be back to work for another hour."

"Sure," I replied, saving my work and grabbing my belongings.

As we stepped onto the sidewalk, I turned, locking the shop's door before flipping the sign that read 'Out for lunch! Will return at,' with a little clock and two hands.

Trish and I chatted amongst ourselves over the noise as we walked the two blocks to our favorite burger place. My mouth watered as the smell filled my nose even though I had yet to enter the restaurant. It took only a few minutes to order our food and find a booth in the furthest corner, due to my request.

"So," Trish began, "how's boxing been going? Has the instructor made you cry yet?"

I chuckled, thinking back to this morning; at how angry Austin had been. The workout had been horrible, almost overwhelmingly so, but with each yell and snap that fell from him, I found myself pushing harder, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of making me quit. I could feel the ache starting to form through my entire body, but I could also still feel the high.

All morning I had been on cloud nine, so much so that I had rearranged and deep cleaned the entire shop along with going out of my way to greet customers. And I hadn't missed the smile on Betty's face as I watched her watch me from the corner of my eye as I chatted with a customer about the best bouquets to get his wife for Valentine's Day next week.

I also found myself thinking back to Austin's personality change after the workout had ended. He was still somewhat of an ass, but as he sat massaging my shoulders, I could feel the guilt that had taken over once the anger had subsided. Then after, he had started a conversation with me.

His attitude was replaced with a playfulness I didn't think he could possess, and at the same time brought out my own sense of humor I thought I had lost a long time ago.

"Honestly," I breathed, "it's going better than I thought it would."

Trish brightened, and she began to do a little dance in her seat.

"I told you so," she shouted, and I jumped, slapping her arm with a glare.

"Can you shut up," I claimed, relaxing back into my seat as I sent a small wave towards the couple that eyed us curiously.

"And no, he hasn't made me cry," I said, "yet anyway."

"What's he like," Trish asked after thanking the waitress that placed our food in front of us. "Is he one of those buff, take-no-shit kind of guys? Ya know, the ones that never smile no matter how many times you make a joke."

I snorted at the specification. "Yes and no. He is buff, yet lean. His head isn't smaller than his shoulders." Trish let out a cackle at that one. "And the take-no-shit attitude; the first and second day, most definitely, but today, he actually let a bit of his human side show."

Trish furrowed her eyebrows, asking the question she couldn't physically due to the hamburger she was currently shoving into her mouth.

"I was late this morning by fifteen minutes, and he was so angry I thought he was trying to kill me during the workout. But afterward, he actually apologized and massaged out the muscles in my arms and shoulders."

Trish smirked, a glint of mischievous in her eyes. "Oh, is he good with his hands?" Her brows wiggled, and I placed my forehead into my hand.

"Oh my God, Trish."

"What! It's a valid question!"

I rolled my eyes, stuffing a fry into my mouth so I wouldn't have to answer her.

"Okay, okay. I'm kidding," she teased, pausing to look over me, her features softening. "I can already tell a difference, ya know. You seem lighter."

Swallowing, I gave her a soft smile.

After last night, I had laid in bed for a good five-minutes debating on whether I really wanted to get up and go to the gym. And when finding that I had forgotten to put my clothes in the dry before my melt down last night, I almost completely gave up on it all together.

I fought hard against the part of me that wanted to cancel the entire six-week plan when calling Kira. But I had no control over the words that came from my mouth, letting her know that I would be a tad bit late and to please let Austin know.

And when I walked through the doors only to be greeted with Austin's scowling face, I couldn't remember why I didn't cancel it.

Until the workout started, and I released every ounce of frustration and pain onto the bag with Austin's angry words being the motivation I needed to keep me going. Afterwards, I did feel lighter, and I suddenly remembered why I hadn't cancelled.

The constant whir in my head went away when I was in that room, focusing on the movements of my body instead of everything else I couldn't control – on what I no longer had.

And the feeling was becoming addicting.

"I feel lighter," I admitted, dragging a fry through ketchup. Looking up, I saw a flicker of admiration and relief flash across her features. I took in a smile breath, biting my lip as I held back a small smile. "I think this might actually work."

What do you guys think!

I'm hope you enjoyed and I'd love to hear your feedback!

I hope to have the next chapter up soon! Thanks for reading :)

-meg